So in the advance tutorial you select ORD2 and runway 14R. Exactly why do yo select ORD2, what is the purpose?I think that I get that selecting a STAR gives you your approach, but why a SID?Rod Storer

SID = Standard Instrument Departure. It does just about the same things a Standard Terminal Arrival procedure does but in reverse; that is, it gets planes from the runway to specific fixes that correspond with convenient (and/or safe) entry to likely airways forming the first leg of routes commonly used from the airport.

KORD doesn't have SIDs that route you to fixes, look at the ORD2 SID chart and you will see specific instructions about frequencies and altitude constraints at points along the departure path. You can get the chart lots of places, airnav.com or flightaware.com are two of them.

Thanks Zenra and Dan, I guess ORD only has a ORD4 SID now, that was all that was on Airnav. I looked at the ORD4 SID, the JFK Lendy5 STAR and the JFK VOR 13L IAP and I am beganing to understand all of this and where to find the info for SIDS and STARS.

O'Hare isn't the best example really... The ORD2 is what's known as a "vector" departure - it is technically a SID, but instead of being a "pilot nav" SID where you follow waypoints on your own, you rely on ATC vectors to get to the transition point onto your enroute segment.A lot of SIDs have both elements - you get ATC vectors initially right after takeoff, but then follow pilot nav waypoints on your own for the rest of the procedure. In ATC lingo, you'll hear stuff on these types of SIDs like "Turn right heading 040, intercept the PXR-006 radial and resume the SILOW1 Departure." You also might just be cleared direct to the first pilot nav waypoint on the SID too, ie, "Cleared direct THOMM, resume own navigation."If you want to see a fully pilot nav SID, try the CHEZZ2 at KPHX or the HOLTZ9 at KLAX. Both don't involve any ATC vectors, you just fly waypoints from takeoff straight through.Note too that in the USA, a SID is officially called a "DP" for "Departure Procedure".

Last year, I saw a comparison of how the departure radar tracks looked before and after adopting RNAV departures at KDFW. The difference was amazing, the tracks before were scattered like a birds nest but after adopting RNAV it looks very cool and the increase in safe efficient airspace utilization is obvious. Most of the southern major airports have adopted these procedures (KLAX, KLAS KDFW KATL KMIA KFLL). Finally, KLGA will add RNAV DPs in the next cycle (1004) so maybe the northern tier is starting to catch up.